High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of sulfur mustard reaction with amino acids and proteins

The interaction of sulfur mustard with aminoacids and proteins has been investigated in this study. Rats were injected with sublethal doses of sulfur mustard subcutaneously and intraperitoneally. At different time intervals, plasma and urine samples were collected. The binding affinity of sulfur mustard with urinary and plasma proteins and enzymes was studied for the first time using non-ideal size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. We observed that sulfur mustard reacts with proteins and enzymes containing cystein, arginine, and lysine residues

Hematological findings of sulphur mustard poisoning in Iranian combatants

Sulphur mustard [SM] is an alkylating agent that was first used as a chemical warfare agent during the First World War in 1917. SM is readily absorbed from the skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tract and is distributed to several organs. SM may act rapidly and persistently upon DNA replicating mechanism of the individual cells during mitosis particularly in the hematopoietic system. Of 233 patients with SM poisoning, hematological investigations were performed in 213 of them. Mild changes were observed in red blood cells and its indices. Initial leukocytosis [> 11 x 10 [9]/L was observed in 7.2% and leukopenia [<4x10 [9]/L in 3.8% of the patients. Marked lymphopenia, neutrocytosis and eosinopenia [<2%] were found in 36%, 38%, and 25% of the patients, respectively. Bone marrow biopsy in 3 fatal cases revealed marked hypocellularity and dyserythropoietic changes. Apart from the respiratory complications, mortality from SM poisoning is mainly due to bone marrow failure

Transient decreased serum testosterone after exposure to mustard gas

The effects of exposure to chemical weapons containing sulfur mustards on the serum levels of total and free testosterone, gonadotropins and prolactin was investigated in young Iranian men. In the first five weeks after injury both serum total and free testosterone were significantly decreased as compared to control values. Three of 13 men had total testosterone below 300 ng/dL; and two of six had subnormal serum free testosterone concentrations. By the fifth week after exposure serum free testosterone did not change; however there was further fall in mean serum total testosterone and 70% of men had subnormal values. Both serum total and free testosterone concentrations returned to normal values by the 12th week after injury. There was a significant rise in serum FSH and prolactin by the fifth week and in serum LH by the fourth week after exposure. These data suggest that injury by the chemical warfare containing sulfur mustard may cause acute inhibition of testosterone secretion from the testis leading to a significant decline in serum total and free testosterone and some increase in gonadotropin concentrations. The inhibition seems to be transient and hormone levels return to normal by 12th week after injury

Evaluation of cell-mediated immunity in mustard gas injuries

Yamakido, et al. in 1986 have studied immunological parameters in poison gas workers, and a depression has been observed in immunologic response. Also, the frequency of cancer has reached as high as five-fold that of the general population. In the present study, cell-mediated immunity [CMI] was measured in three groups of Iranian mustard gas-injured patients. The first group were those who had been injured three months up to one year before, and the second group were studied one to two years after injury, and the third were studied after two years from the time of injury. The following results were obtained: 1- In comparison with normal controls [61.5 +/- 4], T lymphocytes showed a significant decrease in 50% of the three groups [50.71 +/- 15. 7; 46.95 +/- 15] of poison gas injury, and B lymphocytes were increased, but no significant difference could be seen in mitogen response to PHA. 2- In comparison with normal control [47 +/- 9], T helper cells [T4] in 52% of the first and second groups were significantly decreased [33. 14 +/- 16.59]. 3- T suppressor cells [T8] in 53% of the first group, and in 22% of the second and third groups [27.29 +/- 11. 77; 21. 4 +/- 6. 89] were increased in comparison with normal controls [20 +/- 6]. 4-Ratio of T4 to T8 in 71% of the first group and 60% of the second and third groups were decreased. Therefore depression of CMI in poison gas injury was observed after one, two, and three years, which will be discussed in this paper